A Bright Future

Night fell, and deep darkness surged in from the horizon, covering even the cacti at the foot of the mountain. Scattered caws of crows circled the jagged hills, while the crude camp reflected the sleepless bonfires, making the scene feel all the more desolate.

Ozoma stood alone on the camp's watchtower. The scales in his heart swayed back and forth, just like the firelight in his eyes.

"Great leader!"

Red Monkey Chieftain sighed faintly.

Over the past few days, the Southern Allied Forces' offensive had been blocked by the treacherous forward camp. Hundreds of Otomi warriors had fallen beneath the stockade at the mouth of the valley, and more than a dozen enemy nobles had died in battle!

Great Leader Chichica was quite encouraged. He sent an envoy to praise Ozoma and delivered the first batch of one thousand reinforcements on time. The great leader himself summoned the tribes within the valley, conscripting able-bodied men while preparing the great sacrifice.

According to the plan, the chieftains of every tribe were to swear blood oaths of loyalty at the great sacrifice and promise their ancestors that they would never surrender! From the envoy's news, the preparations for the blood sacrifice had already been completed, and the grand ritual would soon be held within these two days.

"Great Leader Chichica is brave and unyielding, fair in reward and punishment, and always keeps his word. If, under the great leader's direction, all the tribes unite as one and resist to the very end, can we hold the valley?"

Ozoma thought for a long time, unable to make up his mind. Then he looked beneath the camp again, where the Wooden Trebuchets built by the Mexica People stood arrayed in a line, stirring unease in his heart.

"Great Chief Death God's magic is profound